Bangladesh’s first innings in the second Test against Sri Lanka came to an end in amusing fashion, with Taijul Islam falling hit wicket as his shoe fell onto his stumps as he played a stroke.
The No.8, who had batted for over an hour, played back to Suranga Lakmal, blocking the ball into the pitch. However, as he stepped backwards, his left shoe came off, before being sent behind him into the stumps. The bail fell off, and Taijul and Bangladesh’s innings came to an end.
The game itself is shaping up to be an interesting contest. The first Test was a run-laden draw, with 17 wickets falling across five days and three batsmen passing 150, and the second at first seemed like it might be similar, as Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne put on a double-century stand for the first wicket, but since then, bat and ball have engaged in an even contest.
Sri Lanka declared on 493-7 before bowling out Bangladesh for 251. While Tamim Iqbal made 92, it was 22-year-old debutant Praveen Jayawickrama who stood out, claiming 6-92, the best figures by a Sri Lanka bowler on Test debut.
Choosing to bat again, Sri Lanka lost two wickets before stumps, with Taijul partially making up for his shoe mishap by dismissing first-innings half-centurion Oshada Fernando.